Is There a Relationship between Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms and C-reactive Protein Levels in Men? A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Objective: Lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTSs) increase with benign prostatic hyperplasia and age in men. The mechanism underlying this increase is not well known. In literature, an increase in inflammation is suggested as the reason for LUTSs. C-reactive protein (CRP) is a commonly used and important marker for inflammation. The aim of this study was to question the relationship between LUTS and CRP levels and to determine if inflammation may cause LUTSs.

Methods: Our study was retrospective and cross-sectional. One hundred and eighty-three patients who were LUTS (+) and (-) and who were suggested to undergo prostate biopsy because of high PSA were included in this study in a urology polyclinic. For all patients suggested to undergo biopsy, CRP levels were routinely requested by the polyclinic. CRP levels were compared to LUTSs both based on their value in the report and their cut-off value of 0.50 mg/dL. For statistical analyses, p<0.05 was considered significant.

Results: While the average age in LUTS (+) patients was 62.71 +/- 0.87 years, in LUTS (-) patients, it was 61.67 +/- 1.01 years (p=0.625). When the CRP levels of the patients with and without symptoms were compared, a statistically significant difference was not found (p=0.189). Additionally, in the evaluation made, by considering pathological if the cut-off values of CRP were 0.5 mg/dL or more, there was no difference between LUTS (+) and (-) patients (p=0.921).

Conclusion: In our study, we could not find a relationship between LUTSs and CRP levels. There are many factors affecting CRP levels. Currently, to determine the relationship between LUTSs and CRP levels, wider, community-based studies where all factors affecting CRP levels are excluded and containing sub-analyses are required.